#needle phobic legend

[hyah-lian]

Sorta stimmy links stuff, and also v inspired by @triforce-of-mischief and her fic series Overcome (about trypanophobic Lege) hoping that they like this fic and find comfort in it bc it sounds like it's been a rough few days.

⚠️Trigger warnings for mention of the cause of trypanophobia/brief discussion of it. Also some descriptions ppl may find claustrophobic bc I have headcanons of Hyrule liking very tight spaces. BUT this is primarily supposed to be fluffy and comfort-y

It got a lot longer than I thought lol

---------

"I feel like a blanket would be more appropriate, 'Rule," Legend deadpanned.

He stared as the other hero wiggled into the small triangular gap he made between travel-packs.

"Nope," Hyrule popped the 'p', "this is better."

Legend shrugged and reclined to support his weight on his hands behind him while Hyrule fidgeted into the small trap he made for himself.

Then he wheezed out what felt like all the air in his lungs as Hyrule's head smacked into his stomach unexpectedly.

"Oh. I thought you were still behind me, behind me."

Legend couldn't even be mad with Hyrule's big eyes and smile staring up at him. He wheeled again, still catching his breath, before motioning for the other Link to sit up again. Legend scooted himself forward in the same reclined position until his shoulder was roughly lined up with Hyrule's back.

"There," he bumped an elbow into 'Rules back, "you can lay back now."

Hyrule did so with a happy little hum, pulling the two bags around his elbows in tighter before relaxing back fully. He squirmed for a second, pulling out scraps of fabric left over from ruined clothes and began twisting and braiding them into a rope.

"Comfy?" Legend snorted a laugh through his nose.

"Yep!" Hyrule popped the 'p' once more with a huge grin.

--------

Legend had been on edge all day after yesterday's fight.

More like yesterday's after-fight.

Hyrule couldn't count the number of times Legend's hands went to pick at and worry the edge of the bandage around his bicep. How many times he took a wide berth around Warriors and Time. How quiet he had been all day. The quiver and bitter-sour blackberry taste of fear weaved into Legend's essence.

They stopped for camp a bit earlier than usual, only because the path ended up shorter than anticipated and they found the spot Four said he needed to visit quickly.

The minish woods were sweetened with magic like candied grapes that had Hyrule feeling giddy and recharged.

The clearing they were in was near what looked like a miniature temple with a vast flat of lush green grass on top that sung of little motes of magic. It gave Hyrule an idea and he sprinted off to jump the small gap and little trickling stream of water in front of it.

Twilight shouted out in surprise and reached for 'Rulie as he ran off, but Four stopped him.

Four smiled after Hyrule, taking a moment to... listen? to something before turning over his shoulder to shout.

"LEGE! Hyrule's gone off the path again."

Legend turned and glared at Four for a moment before taking a deep breath and shouldering both his and Hyrule's packs over his good arm.

Hyrule grinned as he bounced on the balls of his feet, hair whooshing with the motion before continuing to carefully run his way up to the raised area. Something about it spoke of warmth to him, and like everywhere else in this forest, he kept the feeling that light and careful steps were a must.

When Legend bridged the gap between them, Hyrule took the bags with exaggerated care. He avoided touching Legend's good or bad arm and instead of grabbing the other's hand like he wanted to, he held his own out in offering.

Legend hesitated. Hyrule smiled and turned to keep walking with his hand still an open palmed invitation.

He felt Legend grab the tips of his fingers after a moment. If that was all he could tolerate, Hyrule was proud he made that step.

Legend followed, cautious and confused at Hyrule's winding path. The slowed pace, though, he was grateful for. Ever since patch-up last night he felt cotton-headed and on edge.

Wars has needed Time to hold-

Legend shook his head violently, shaking the world onto a new axis. He felt his breath hitch and drew back his hand like the touch burned.

"There is a step up in front of you, Lege."

Hyrule's words regrounded him briefly. He took a shaky breath in and nodded. He climbed up the small slope to stand atop the flat of emerald grass.

Hyrule tossed down his bag and gently placed Legend's and fiddled with them to make a short a-frame gap.

"Sit?"

<I'm fine.> Legend signed. He hadn't felt like talking all day. Not even sure if he could had he wanted to.

"Please? Try. It is like a hug but nobody is really touching you."

Legend felt a stab of panic again, thinking back to his wounds getting tended.

"You can push them off or make it as small as you want. A safe hide. Just here, your stuff, and the grass and sun."

Hyrule was leaning back and lazily running his hands through the warm blades of grass as if that was the only thing to want in the world.

Of course it could be his world is near-dead.

Legend quashed the negative thoughts as they tried to bubble up.

<Okay. I'll try.>

Even with Hyrule facing away, Legend knew he saw.

He sat next to the carefully positioned packs and tried to scoot his way under the way Hyrule would. Elbows and knees protesting, but even with that and the sour mood he had been stuck in it felt silly and he couldn't help the faint flutter of a laugh stir in his chest.

<Nobody will believe you got me to wiggle into a bag-tent like an inchworm,> he joked.

Hyrule just smiled, and for a second Legend wasn't sure if the traveler had seen him signing. But Hyrule stood and held the packs apart just enough for Legend to wiggle between them much more comfortably.

Hyrule sat behind Legend. Close but not touching. The bags dropped to lean against each other again, pressing the faintest pressure onto his chest and arms. None of the fear of restraint or hands on his skin stirred. Deeper breaths settled behind his ribs, and Legend felt some of his tense discomfort ease away.

"You can lean on me, if you want. Take a load off and breathe. It is safe here. You are safe here."

Legend wanted to, badly, but his chest tightened again. A split second of emotion jolting forward to choke him again. His eyes stung.

He dipped his head back cautiously and found Hyrule's shoulder solidly in place. He took a shaky breath, and another. The sun was warm, it was quiet and smelled like sweet lemon grass and pine. His breath hitched again on a sob, loose items in their bags jingling with the movement.

"It's okay," Hyrule said, swaying slightly but still a solid presence behind Legend. "I've got you when you're ready."

Legend broke.

After some time spent in an exhausted haze, Legend realized he had fallen asleep and was now waking up. He was half buried under rucksacks with his head on Hyrule's lap, warm orange afternoon sun heating him, and a steady weight pressed to his shoulder.

He took an unhindered breath in, heaving a huge sigh-turned-yawn. The scrap-rope Hyrule was working on swayed in front of his eyes. The boy was still gently swaying and humming, short snippets on repeat.

"Thanks..." his voice cracked with the word after going all day without using it.

"Any time."

----

It had been a good few hours since Legend and Hyrule had taken off. Four had separated himself after a lot of easing fears to go see the Minish.

They had spent those hours catching up with the small folk, and doing a few dispatches of pesky spiders or other favors.

After finishing those tasks, Four met with the Minish Elder in this village and they walked through the halls of one of the buildings Four liberated years back. They exited the doors into the warm orange glow of late afternoon to stand at the river's edge to finish talking.

Giggling and excited chatter tumbled down the slope of the building's walls, and Four climbed up to peek over the ledge.

Hyrule and Legend were leaning together, fast asleep, and a dozen or so minish were cuddled up to, or climbing on the two of them. Excited chatter about them smelling the same as Four and having the same soft aura to them filtered over.

Four scrambled back down and relayed the sight to the Elder before promising to come back again in the morning.

[fics-and-fables]

I don't have trypanophobia but I do have other fears and phobias many would consider "irrational". I really love how you write phobic Legend and how his fear doesn't always make sense or have one specific trigger. Plus of course how characters like Wars never ridicule him and always take his fear seriously. I hope I didn't say anything offensive here or anything, just really enjoy your depictions.

Thank you so much, that's really nice to hear!

A phobia is, by definition, "an extreme or irrational fear." I'll explain it more in later fics, but Legend has developed more than a 'simple' fear of needles. He also has traumatic memories, trust issues, and emotional repression. Add those to the preexisting fear of needles and you have the Legend I'm writing now. Of course, all levels of trypanophobia are valid!

One thing I was set on before I started writing was to give Legend full support from his brothers. There's lots of people who have made fun of him, and do make fun of him, but he has friends on his side now. That's another thing that'll come up later, and I'll probably warn for it. Seeing your fear invalidated is not a fun experience so I don't want to trigger anyone if they're not ready for it.

This is a really cathartic series for me, and I'm so happy to see people relating to it! I hope it helps with your phobias no matter what they are.

[sakurai09]

So yesterday I had started watching the ...let’s call it kooky...TV show Legion.

It is an absolute legend of a TV show. Confusing af in the beginning, and with so many twists and turns that can give you whiplash.

Now, I won’t tell you what the show is about (ahem...its about Professor Xaviers kids --yeah, I know, I found out who he really was AFTER the 6th episode btw -- who ends up in a mental hospital because he sees things he can’t explain -- which aren’t actually there...or are they?) this is not a review post.

But as a therapist, I am more in love with this show, because its just awesome. However, you don’t have to know any knowledge other than common sense at majority of the parts. And though the beginning -- to about episode...oh god all of them -- is confusing, just stick with it to the end, because its so freakin’ worth it. (personal preference).

But sakurai-ai? what is this post about if not a review?

Well...reader...(dude, I’m just talking to myself now) this post is about this young woman. Sydney. Or as she likes to be called ‘Syd’.

She is classed in the mental hospital as ‘touch phobic’.

Yes people, my prayers have been answered. Syd is an aphenphosmphobic. Just like myself!

Now I was happy with the first episode, and her explanation of ‘why she didn’t like to be touched’.

“There's this feeling, the closer I get to someone...It's like being covered with ants, these little anxious needles under my skin. Sometimes it's all I can do not to scream.” (Syd Barrett, Ep 2.)

That, my dears, is a rather clear representation of what I feel (felt) when someone touches me.

However, later you find out why she’s like that...

But regardless of that, it’s nice to be validated.

Watch Legion, because its a great mindfuck of a show.